Underrated vs overrated

[lazza]

The thing is though, it was often very entertaining to watch De Jong, and rarely entertaining to watch Barry, even he was fundamental quite often to an entertaining win. Don't get me wrong, I completely agree with the OP, but I think this explains why it is the way it is. If you watched Barry all the way through a game, it was always remarkable how involved he was, and just how well he read the game, made every pass look simple, was always in the right place at the right time, how much he could inspire those round him, etc.. But you had to specifically watch him to see this, whereas De Jong would almost always do something (often several things) that would get him noticed.

 

[kun]

I think players underrated by the wider footballing population are often highly or over rated by fans of the team, for example Milner between 2011-14 (before he suddenly became highly rated by everyone).

City's most underrated by our fans: Dzeko, Navas, Kolarov, Nasri, Fernandinho

Most overrated:
Milner, Nastasic, de Jong, Van Buyten, Guidetti

 

[kun]

Oh, and as far as the Barry vs de Jong battle goes... Barry was the better player by a distance, but de Jong was a very solid player who was great to watch.

 

[Cityfan]

I liked both players, Barry's use of the ball was far better De Jong was maybe the better tackler. When the two of them were together in midfield I though t we tended to become a bit one paced and easy to close down as neither was particularly good at carrying the ball.
I would certainly rather have a younger GB than any other holding midfielder we have had since though from memory it did take him several years at Villa to establish himself as a midfielder rather than a full back.

 

[malg]

I liked Barry, but to say he turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye is stretching it slightly. Definitely underrated though, but not by Blues, just every pundit in the country who'd rather believe we never make anything of our English signings.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I liked Barry, but to say he turned defence into attack in the blink of an eye is stretching it slightly. Definitely underrated though, but not by Blues, just every pundit in the country who'd rather believe we never make anything of our English signings.

I was referring to his ability to pick up the ball deep and immediately dispatch it simply to a silva or Yaya. Of course he never carved defences open, but what he did was give us the momentum to attack teams who still had men committed forward.

If you watched him he hardly ever passed it backwards and rarely gave it away. Everything he did was simple but very effective.

If he'd had any pace he could have been one of the best midfielders of his generation.

 

[MC ID]

I opened this already thinking about Barry, glad to see others appreciate him as he rightly deserves. I remember many of us actually kind of happy when he went to Everton purely so at least one other fan base could see the wonderful player he is. He was a victim of a highlight culture where his contributions couldn't make it onto a one minute MOTD reel and so most fans based their opinions on 'Ozil ran past him one time in south africa when he was injured, he's shit'. Casual fans think he's shit, genuine football lovers see he really was a fantastic player.

 

[Marvin]

Who forgets Barry? As far as I'm aware most people rated him.

That was my reaction as well. Barry was always very well regarded. During the season, there's always a Dzeko, Kolarov, Garcia thread etc, but I don't ever recall any significant criticism of Barry

My under-rated player would be Kolarov. He gets way too much stick for what he has to offer. Not saying he's perfect, buy the topic was about underrated and overrated. Based on last season, I have to say Kompany was the most over rated.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

I opened this already thinking about Barry, glad to see others appreciate him as he rightly deserves. I remember many of us actually kind of happy when he went to Everton purely so at least one other fan base could see the wonderful player he is. He was a victim of a highlight culture where his contributions couldn't make it onto a one minute MOTD reel and so most fans based their opinions on 'Ozil ran past him one time in south africa when he was injured, he's shit'. Casual fans think he's shit, genuine football lovers see he really was a fantastic player.

Your 'highlights culture' point is totally applicable to Barry, and others like Silva. It makes me think of today's typical football fan: lives in Heckmondwyke, supports Man United, 22 years old, watches them every week in the pub out of the corner of his eye with his replica shirt on, and will pontificate to anyone in the bar his worthless opinions which he's picked up from MOTD. The sort of guy who smugly and loudly says 'bang average', usually to describe players like Barry because, as you say, the only game he actually watched rather than chatting to his mates was that World Cup game when Barry wasn't fit.

There are loads of these types in every pub in the land, usually Man United fans, and they regurgitate the same old second hand cliches to each other between sips of cheap Sunday Stella.

That 'highlights culture' thing also means they often rate the same players, too, the sort who do brilliant things every now and again but might have weaknesses in their game or no consistency. They all love Yaya for that reason I've noticed.

 

[Nascent Blues]

That 'highlights culture' thing also means they often rate the same players, too, the sort who do brilliant things every now and again but might have weaknesses in their game or no consistency.[/QUOTE]

Adam Johnson being a prime example of a 'match of the day' player. For 85 minutes could do fuck all other than put his team mates in the shit, but his one bit of skill where he skins a player and puts in a decent cross gets lauded over and analysed on MOTD .